St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-05

Rev. W. j. Lahmon, of the Church of
Christ, yesterday preached upon "Christ-
ian Possibilities" taking his text from
Phil. w., II: II can do all things through
Christ, who strengthened me-"
He said: AS truly as God lives there
is possible beyond the humanity posi-
BILE. 81 can" is in itself noble word.
To every question of duty the heroic
soul says Il can" That response rises
instinctively from the bosom that is
strong. Emerson has beautifully eX-
pressed it so for all naturally righteous
people:
$50 near is glory to our dust,
SO close is God to man,
When duty, whispers low, thou must
The youth replies, l CAM
The apostle Paul is among the strong
est characters in all our human history.
and this text is in his naturally heroic
tone. Il can do all things" said the
young Saul of Tarsus; Il can do all
things" said Paul the aged. The heroic
prosecutor failed; the heroic preacher
failed not, but succeeded most glori-
ously. know, not which is
the more admirable in its
or that of the apostle; but l know that
the former fought against the powers of
righteousness, and the latter fought
with them. Hence the failure, and
hence also the success, both noblest
manlike. The bravest man that says
II can," and then sets out on the Da-
mascus road must fail. The very light
ningS will fight against him. Courage
Gus as that word is the man who utters
it and says no more must fail ON that
road that leads through life. Jesus
tells us of one who virtually said, II
have succeeded; soul take thine ease;
thou hast much goods laid up for many
years. to whom twas said from above,
''thOu fool" In the midst of strength
we are in weakness, and all our way is
troubled with uncertainties. Therefore
better word even than II can" is, II
can through Him that strengthens me.n
There we take hold on Christ, and in
Hin we have the victorious, the infinite
and the eternal. GraSping that in Him
we arise to strength, trust and Sc
curity that enables us to smile in the
face of this worlds fate, live careless of
the chances of time and bid defiance to
the demons of destruction. How can
Christ help us? For the Christian that
is prime question. First, by his ex-
amples; second, by the motive he pre-
sents; third, by his presence.
First-As to his example. 1t is con-
feSSedly an inspiration to any man OF
noble mould to be like Christ. In Him
the pattern is fixed: the problem of holy
living is solved. With all the kindness
of a teacher he says to US: "See,
or, if not 1 will help you.''
We see Jusus tempted, yet triumphant;
calm in the midst of storm; kind to
those who were cruel; constant in his
love to all men, been his bitterest enc
mics; absolute in his obedience to God,
whom He called Father" sinless in
His life; fOrgiving in his death; holding
in His resurrection the SpOilS of the
grave and the laurelS of life; King of
the truth, and yet its martyr; severe in
his Righteousness, yet Offering forgive
ness; we see Him thus, so great, so
true, so manlike, so more than manlike,
that all the man and all the God within
US rises high with beating heart to ask:
MAY l not hope to be so alSo?" The
man who does, not aspire to goodness
lG never caught glimpse of Christ.
The example of Jesus is new force in
the world, the work of which is to shame
bad men out of their badness and in
spire good men to do better.
Second-As to motive. We should
will TO do right because it is right, yet
motive toward the right is like a life
preServer to the swimmer in mid ocean.
Fixed habits yield to overmaStering mo-
tiveS. A recent writer has argued that
even hereditary traits are easily mas
tered if the motive against them is
strong enough. Speaking of temper, he
says, Commercial travellers are not Sc
lected on account of their natural amia-
bility. On the contrary in their homes
they may be eXacting and passionate.
When it is for ones interest, especially
his pecuniary interest, to govern his
temper, in some way or other he will
succeed. If only we could realize
it Jesus presents the highest mo-
tives to right doing. Besides the love
of a holy person, which Plato reckoned
among the regenerative forces of the
world, there is the assurance of present
protection and of future bliss. Who
that really believes Christ, and really
wants bright and happy home that
shall forever last, cannOt break off what
ever habits, resist whatever temptations
and do whatever is required to be with
Christ and have that home?
Third-AS to ChriSt'S presence. His
promise ISL will be with you forever
And again, IF go away will send
you the Comforter, which is the Holy
Opille. IHOoO pIOilloCo dIO ItdI dIlu
their meaning literal. The air is around
us and within us, though invisible, and
the spirit of Christ is as really present
with us if we will have him. Whittier
says beautifully:
Il know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms i'll air;
1 only know cannot drift
Beyond His reach and care.''
What Safegard if we could always
have good company at our elbow! I
know few men whom l could keep
straight if could always be with them.
Their presence might also help me.
Enlist under your proper captain and
then be heroic. Face your beseting
sin, resist temptation, put down evil
passion, conquer harmful habits;
hereditary depravity even, if you have
it, overcome it; to every demon within
you and without you, say: Through
Him that strengthens me can conquer
YOU" The Christian may say NO."
with such terrific meaning as to non
plus satan himself, while his IL can,"
is the first step in line Of possibilities
beyond the human.
On the field of moral and spiritual